New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-07-24
VHERE COAL BILLS ARE UNKNOWN.

THE INDUSTRIOUS WOOD GArHERERs ON THE BEND
Among the earliest riscrs In tho city arc tho gypsy
facfd women from the italian tencmcnts OF Mott and
Mulberry SITS. Tho gray light has barely streaked
the Eastern shy before In groups OF three or four oy
twos and singiy, Of all ages from tho withorcd ana
w1inked crone Of four TO tho tlo girl OF eight
years they can be huryng along the streets to
begin their daily toll. They seem to bo always In
high spirits and as they pass along thoy laugh ana
chatter and show their gstcnIng teeth, and are as
merry a. bands Of school girls on the eve OF hon
day. They are brave helpmects, these women, ana
by constant labor reduce the household expenses of
Mulberryst 10 a minimum. Coal bills with them arc
unknown All tho wood they use for cooking pur-
poses Is carried on thar heads, often long distances
from places where old buildings being torn down
A TRIBUNE reporter standing at tho foot OF Frank
Inns statue In Printing House Square at daybreah on
a recent morning. counted Eixtythreo Italian women
In thirty minutes. They came from the direction
OF the Italian quarter and passed down Nassanst'
Each ono carried coarse cloth or towel. Some
were barefoot some had shoes and stockings, ana
sun others wore tho cowskin without tho stockings
Their black hair, freshly plated and creased. wa
tied I'm coils about their heads and tawdry jowelry
hung about their nceks AID from their oats
"where arc thcy all going carly In the morn
ing r. asked tho reporter Of big broadbackod police
man who stood watching tho women and swinging
his club.
was being torn down at Ncwst. AMI Exchange place.
and they were going down to carry on tho wooden
wreckage
Several hundred OF them go down hero every morn
ing about this Time" said no. I" In abOut twenty
minutes II you watt you will see them coming back
I'D Nassau-st. with loads their heads sufficient TO
break the back OF q brewery wagon horse"
The reporter waited. Tho swarthy women stu
camo I'm a stream from Centre ST. crossed tho square
and hurried down Nassau-st out Of sight. Presently
the first OF these Industrious housckeepcrs was seen
returning staggering under lOa carried on her head
Of heavy pieces Of beams. broken laihs and frag-
memts OF dusty woodwork. Her bundle was tied
about with a stout cord. Her towel, folded into
pad protected tho skull from the rough surface OF
the load. The wOman's face study for paint
IN It's expression Of pure and unallOycd happiness
Captain Kidd, bearing away the spells of a rich Span
lsh galleon. couldn't have been moro thoroughly at
peace with himself and all tho world than the heavily
laden child of the Apprentices with arm akinbo
burden, shc steercd straight for tho Bend OF Mul-
berry st. As she passed ont OF view down the de-
cline OF Centrest. other women with similar loads
their heads hove In sight I'm Nassaust Soon that
row thOrOughfare a moving OF great bundles
OF wood drifting steadily toward the Bend.
"They make excellent scavongers." said tho police
man. "1ho contractors are glad to get rid OF the
wood and give them every chance 10 clean up torn
down building The price Of coal mover affects them
MubcrTy-st Eyetalians. so long as tho women
bring I'm wood the